Term
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Definition
| Science is a process for producing knowlege methodically and logically. |
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Term
| What are the basic principles of science? |
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Definition
1. Empiricism
2. Uniformitarianism
3. Parsimony
4. Uncertainty
5. Repeatablity
6. Proof is elusive
7. Testable questions |
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Term
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Definition
| We can learn about the world by careful observation of empirical (real, observable) phenomena; we can expect to understand fundamental processes and natural laws by observation. |
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Definition
| Basic patterns and processes are uniform across time and space; the forces at work today are the same as those that shaped the world in the past, and they will continue to do so in the future. |
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Definition
| When two plausible explanations are reasonable, the simpler (more parsimonious) one is preferable. This rule is also known as Ockham's razor, after the English philosopher who proposed it. |
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Definition
| Knowledge changes as new evidence appears, and explanations (theories) change with new evidence. Theories based on current evidence should be tested on additional evidence, with the understanding that new data may disprove the best theories. |
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Definition
| Tests and experiments should be repeatable; if the same results cannot be reproduced, then the conclsions are probably incorrect. |
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Definition
| We rarely expect science to provide absolute proof that a theory is correct, because new evidence may always undermine our current understanding. |
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Term
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Definition
| To find out whether a theory is correct, it must be tested; we formulate testable statements (hypotheses) to test theories. |
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